newsletter from the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Ui/
^IMSA
Volume 1 • No. 1
"A Pioneering Educational Community"
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
1500 West Sullivan Road
Aurora. Illinois 60506-1039
312/801-6000
Director
Dr. Stephanie Pace Marshall
Board of Trustees
Dr. Nancy Cole
Dean of College of Education
University of Illinois
Dr. LeRoy Ducksworth
Superintendent
' East St. Louis School Dist. 189
Ms. Sheila Griffin
Marketing Executive
Motorola Incorporated
Mr. Gary D. Jewel
Superintendent of Schools
Aurora West School Dist. 129
Dr. Leon Lederman
Director
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
Mr. John Marion
President
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Dr. Walter Massey
Vice President for Research and for Argonne
National Laboratory. University of Chicago
Mr. John McEachern. Jr.
President
Wayne Circuits Incorporated
Dr. David Mintzer
Special Assistant to the President
Northwestern University
Mr. James D. Pearson
President
Aurora Industries
Dr. David R. Pierce
Executive Director
Illinois Community College Board
Dr. Anthony Sadowski
Vice President
Nalco Chemical Company
Mr. Ted Sanders
State Superintendent of Education
Ms. Barbara Schmulbach
Teacher of Mathematics
Carbondale Community High School
Mrs. Elise Scott
Teacher of Chemistry'
Mattoon High School
Mr. Jesus Manual Sosa
Principal
Clemente High School. Chicago
Dr. Richard D. Wagner
Executive Director
State Board of Higher Education
Editor
Naomi Geltner
NOVA is published five times a year by the
IMSA Communications Office.
The pioneering staff and faculty of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy.
Dear Member of the Academy Community,
Welcome to the first edition of the
Illinois Mathematics and Science
Academy's newsletter! The Illinois
Mathematics and Science Academy is a
three-year residential school for students
gifted in mathematics and science. The
Academy was created as part of Senate
Bill 730, the Comprehensive Educational
Reform Bill in Illinois, and opened on
September 7, 1986, with 210 of the
state's brightest students.
According to our legislation, students
receive their education at the Academy
without charge for housing, food service,
or tuition. The Academy offers a com-
prehensive program in mathematics,
science, social science, English, and for-
eign language. Presently, instruction is
offered in French, Spanish. German,
Latin, and Russian. Beginning with the
1987-1988 school year, we will be offer-
ing a program in Japanese language and
culture, and hope to expand our non-
Western language instruction by adding
Mandarin Chinese the following year.
Programs in fine and performing arts are
being developed, and our cocurricular
interscholastic program in athletics and
other academic activities is being
expanded.
The Academy presently has the equi-
valent of fifteen teachers. All full-time
teachers have a minimum of a master's
degree in their respective subject area,
and almost 30 percent have a Ph.D. in
their field. All faculty and staff are
employed on one-year contracts.
The Academy is located near the 1-5
High Tech Corridor, encompassing
Aurora, Batavia, and Naperville within
forty miles of Chicago's vast cultural and
educational assets. The area has seen an
explosion of recent growth.
The Illinois Mathematics and Science
Academy is located on a 93-acre campus
continued on next page
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
continued from page 1
within the city limits of Aurora. The $14
million campus was completed in 1978
by the Aurora West School District. It
was closed in 1981 because of declining
enrollments and will be purchased from
the West Aurora School District by the
Board of Trustees of the Academy.
At the present time there are only
three public residential schools in the
country for students gifted in math and
science. These include the North Caro-
lina School of Science and Mathematics
and the Louisiana School of Mathe-
matics, Science, and the Arts. Of these
three residential schools, the Illinois
Mathematics and Science Academy is
the only three-year school and has the
most modern facilities. The building has
125 modular classrooms, a large infor-
mation resource center, a small theatre,
music and art rooms, and a specially
designed greenhouse. In addition, the
Academy has three large gymnasiums
and a competition-sized pool.
Two residential dormitories will be
completed for student use in April. 1987;
at the same time, we will break ground
for three additional dormitories for our
incoming students in the 1987-1988
school year. Our student population for
1987-1988 is expected to be approxi-
mately 500.
To supplement our academically
rigorous program, students will work
with scientists, researchers, educators,
and engineers at Fermilab, Argonne
National Laboratory. A.T.&T. Bell Labor-
atories, Amoco Research, Nalco, and
other high tech companies, research
institutions, and universities in our area.
In addition to professional mentors
and tutors, students will have access to
the University of Illinois' Cray Super
Computer and the PLATO system. We
are in the process of developing a com-
pletely merged library/computer center.
The principal mission of the Illinois
Mathematics and Science Academy is to
provide an exemplary academic program
for our "apprentice investigators"
within an environment that fosters
inquiry, creativity, imagination and risk-
taking. However, the Academy will also
be a catalyst for the improvement and
enhancement of science and mathemat-
ics teaching in Illinois, by serving as a
laboratory for curriculum and instruc-
tional inquiry and development. As a
pioneering academic community, the
Academy will serve as an outreach center
for program and material development
Dr. Marshall talks with Andy Bagnato. Tribune Reporter.
and teacher training.
The nation is facing a critical shortage
of citizens trained in the fields of
science, mathematics and technology.
The State of Illinois has an obligation to
the nation and to its own citizens to
develop the human resources necessary
for economic leadership in a post-
industrial society. The Illinois Mathe-
matics and Science Academy is prepared
to address this very broad challenge by
nurturing creative excellence in students
of science and mathematics.
The opening of the Illinois Mathemat-
ics and Science Academy represents the
beginning of a bold new venture in edu-
cation in Illinois, and we are confident
that the Academy will make a difference
in the lives of our students and in the
improvement of mathematics and
science education in our state.
The Academy is a state-wide institu-
tion. Your insights and suggestions will
be enormously helpful as we continue to
shape the culture and program of this
institution. As a citizen of Illinois, we
invite your inquiry and participation in
our state's most unique educational
venture.
James D. Pearson, President
Board of Trustees
Stephanie P. Marshall. Ph.D.
Director
New York Studies
Academy Concept
The state of New York is among sev-
eral states that are studying the concept
of a public residential school for the
gifted. Governor Mario Cuomo recently
sent a representative on a fact-finding
tour of the Illinois Mathematics and
Science Academy. Jim Miller, Deputy
Commissioner of Commerce, visited with
staff and the Student Council on Friday,
February 6th.
Last month Governor Cuomo
requested $1 million to study the feasi-
bility of establishing a residential school
in Long Island, New York. The proposal
follows two years of preliminary studies
by state officials attempting to develop
regional training centers for the gifted.
According to reports, the expense of
establishing 19 regional centers under
local school board jurisidiction prompted
the move by Cuomo.
The Bronx High School of Science in
New York served as one of the inspira-
tions for the Illinois school. Only two
other states have developed public resi-
dential schools - Louisiana and North
Carolina. Other states considering a sim-
ilar endeavor include Indiana, New Jer-
sey, Oklahoma and Maryland.
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
IMSA Math Teacher Attends Math Symposium
"There is a difference in attitudes and
expectations between the Japanese and
the American students," says Sue
Eddins, math teacher. She says those
were the biggest issues that kept recur-
ring at the Symposium on International
Comparisons of Mathematics Education
that released additional information on
the topic. (See related article.)
The symposium included presenta-
tions from four major cross-cultural stu-
dies: The Second International Mathe-
matics Study (SIMS), U.S. Summary
Report, The International Association
for the Evaluation of Educational
Achievement, Mathematics Learning in
Japanese, Chinese and American Class-
rooms and math text translation of Dr.
Isaak Wirszup.
Sue Eddins. /MSA Math Teacher
U.S. Students Mediocre in Math,
National Study Says
American pupils badly trail their coun-
terparts in Japan and China in the area
of mathematics, according to a study of
18 nations co-authored by a University of
Illinois mathematics professor. This
information was released at an interna-
tional math symposium recently in
Washington. D.C.
According to the study, and author
William Travers, unchallenging and
pointlessly repetitious school curricula
contribute to the low achievement of
American students. "We're revisiting
concepts," says Travers in an Associated
Press article about math, "but we're not
adding anything new."
The study disputes claims that Ameri-
can students are outperformed by other
nations' students because of lack of suf-
ficient time for instruction, large class
size, or because of poorly trained
teachers. Japan's average class sizes,
according to the report, are about 43 for
the 12th grade, while American schools
average 26. American students spend an
average of 144 hours per year in math,
compared to 101 for the Japanese.
According to Travers, America is
beyond the quick-fix stage. "It's going to
take a long-term commitment — at least
20 years — to turn things around." The
report recommended renewed scrutiny of
math textbook quality, increased status
and rewards for math teachers, and
improved professional development pro-
grams for teachers. It also calls for
increasing the intensity of content in
math classes.
"We need to make better use of the time
that is available," Travers emphasized.
The Academy is carefully studying the
results of this report as it continues to
develop the Math Curriculum.
One of the studies was of kinder-
garten, first and fifth grade students by
people at the University of Michigan and
the University of Chicago. According to
Eddins. that study included a lot of
classroom observation. "In a Japanese
classroom, presenting the idea of six
minus four, a teacher could spend a
whole period of mathematics on that one
idea. He would begin every problem like
that. . .presenting it as an application.
And, he would ask students to make up
problems that would have that as a
representation. An American school
would have done twenty-five problems,
emphasizing the answer." Eddins says
what was important in the Japanese
classroom was not the answer, but the
idea. "That was only at the elementary
level, but I think that carries on to the
secondary level as well."
According to Eddins, the attitude of
students, teachers and the general pub-
lic plays a role in the level of achieve-
ment. "Those countries which tended to
score extremely high, generally speak-
ing, were not all that satisfied with their
educational system. Of the teachers, par-
ents and students interviewed in the
U.S.. all expressed satisfaction with the
educational system. But when you look
at the performance levels, they're not
there." The consequence, she says, is
complacency and almost no impetus to
change.
Eddins was among 200 educators
invited to participate in the conference,
and says that the state of Illinois was
well represented, not only among parti-
cipants, but among the presenters as
well. Those at the conference will now
be expected to disseminate the informa-
tion to their own schools and states.
"The main thrust of the conference is for
participants to try to get together with
state and national leaders and produce a
set of guidelines that might begin to
influence policy and help improve
mathematics education."
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
IMSA Fund Has
First Director
An Aurora resident has been chosen to
head the new foundation for the Illinois
Mathematics and Science Academy.
Alberta Solfisburg was officially hired as
the Director for the IMSA Fund for
Advancement of Education during its'
Board of Directors meeting in February.
"I'm looking forward to just being at
IMSA. It will be exciting to work at a
pioneering educational facility," says
Solfisburg. "It will be exciting to sell
IMSA, as an investment in our country's
youth. . .as an investment in our coun-
try's future."
Solfisburg started her new position
Monday, February 9th, after serving as
Associate in Development for Aurora
University for ten years. In that period,
she worked towards raising funds and
administering federal grants. Solfisburg
replaces Interim Director, Borden Mace,
who left in November to return to North
Carolina.
I think IMSA will be easy to market to
investors," she adds, "because it is so
unique." According to Solfisburg, the
Fund hopes to raise $15 million over a
three-year period, for endowments, oper-
ating expenses and special projects. As
Director, she plans to develop a program
of planned giving and annual giving, as
well as initiating grant proposals to
foundations and the corporate sector.
The Fund has so far received over
$400,000 in total contributions since its
inception.
Solfisburg was born and raised in New
Mexico and has lived in Aurora for over
thirteen years. She has worked for more
than 16 years in fund-raising activities.
Prior to her position with Aurora Univer-
sity, she worked in grant-writing for
Lewis University in Lockport, Illinois.
Student and Chemistry Teacher
Invited to D.C.
An IMSA student and his chemistry
teacher will attend a special Centennial
celebration in Washington, D.C.
Mehmet Giiler and chemistry teacher,
Chris Kawa, of Batavia, were selected to
attend the 100th Anniversary meeting of
the National Institutes of Health.
NIH is sponsoring a Centennial Scho-
lars and Teachers program to encourage
the best young minds to consider careers
in biomedical research. The program also
recognizes outstanding efforts by
teachers.
Giiler, of Anna, Illinois, was selected
on the basis of his interest in the bio-
medical field. He selected Kawa as the
teacher who most influences him in
science. Kawa will accompany him to
the special three-day event.
According to NIH, a major public tele-
vision series is planned in connection
with the observance.
Chris Kawa
Mehmet Giiler
Life as a Resident
Counselor
Working as a Resident Counselor at
IMSA is quite different from similar posi-
tions at colleges or universities. Some of
the primary duties the IMSA RCs have
include advising students, as well as
planning educational and social
activities.
When IMSA first opened in Sep-
tember, the RCs worked with the stu-
dents by helping them establish time
schedules and even teaching some how
to do laundry.
The RCs all have different educational
backgrounds. Julie Freund grew up in a
large family and is the oldest of eight
children. She holds a B.A. in Physical
Education from Aurora University. Her
background has enhanced the recreation
and sports activities at IMSA. Freund
currently coaches the girls basketball
team.
Head male Resident Counselor,
Harold Cline has a Master's Degree in
Divinity and served as a resident advisor
at the North Carolina School of Science
and Mathematics. The diversity of expe-
riences results in a variety of activities
and ideas for the new students. While
the RCs come from different back-
grounds, Freund and another female RC,
Melissa Striegel agree that nothing can
really prepare a person for doing the
kind of work they do at IMSA.
According to Striegel, "when you're
an RC in a situation like this you do
more than just enforce rules. We do a lot
of counseling. It's more personal."
For the nine who have chosen to work
in this unique residential environment,
the rewards have been many and varied.
"It's the little things, for me," says
Striegel, "We get notes from the parents
and phone calls thanking us for the job
we're doing."
Off-campus sign-outs, curfew checks,
housekeeping inspections and room care
are issues not ordinarily addressed at
most schools, but they are part of the
daily routine for the Academy's RCs.
They are the recreation directors, super-
visors and the shoulders that students
can cry on. If there is one characteristic
that probably runs through all the RCs,
it is that they love working with kids
and, according to Striegel, "It helps to
have a good sense of humor."
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
IMSA Student Profile
IMSA serves students who have com-
pleted the equivalent of the ninth grade.
This year's class of 210 (120 males and 90
females) represents a sample of the state's
brightest youngsters. They vary in age
from 12 to 16.
State legislation requires that the stu-
dent population reflect the ethnic, racial
and gender distribution of Illinois. The
present class is 70% Caucasian, 10%
Black, 15% Oriental, 3% Hispanic, and
2% from other ethnic groups.
Fifty-five percent of the students are
from the Chicago suburban area. Forty-
five percent of the class come from other
parts of the state.
The average Scholastic Aptitude Test
(SAT) score for these students is 620 in
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
Caucasian Amer/White 71 6%
151
mathematics, and 537 in the verbal sec-
tion. These scores are approximately 150
to 200 points higher than those of the
average college-bound senior. The tests
were taken by students as eighth or ninth
graders.
The current class was selected from an
application pool of 768. Approximately
300 students will be invited for the 1987-
88 academic year.
Oriental American 14 2%
30
Alro American/Black 9 5%
20
Spanish American 2 8%
6
, American Indian 14%
Unknown 5%
IMSA Looks to New Student Scholars
The Illinois Mathematics and Science
Academy is only six months old, but it is
already preparing to enlist the class of
1990. About 11,000 application materials
were mailed to school superintendents,
principals, guidance counselors, and
state legislators.
"We believe we did a terrific job last
year in selecting our students and plan
to use a similar strategy this year," says
Dr. LuAnn Smith, Dean of Admissions. A
committee of about 30 professionals in
education and private industry screened
the more than 750 applications that
were submitted last year. According to
Smith, the Admissions Office is hoping
to enlist the same people for screening
this year.
"This year teachers of mathematics
and science, along with parents and
counselors are asked to provide us with
additional information. Students also
have the opportunity to tell us about
themselves and why they would like to
be IMSA scholars," says Smith. She says
they look for more than just high test
scores, and students are judged on an
accomplishment-based rating system.
"In comments, screeners are looking for
exceptional mathematical or scientific
abilities and reasoning through special
projects or competitions."
After admission, all IMSA students
will be studied, while in school and after
they leave. That responsibility is also
under Smith's direction. "We need to
know how this environment affects these
students and what is effective and what
is not."
Entering students and their families
were asked to complete background
questionnaires before and after they
arrived at IMSA. The information will be
used to develop programs at this and
other schools around the state. "We
need to more fully understand cognitive
development, . . .and how it differs
among gifted students from the general
population, and the different ways they
display their exceptional ability."
She says that while there are many
studies on the gifted child, there are not
many studies on large numbers of stu-
dents at higher grade levels. According
to Smith, "We want to look at factors
that affect their future professional lives,
such as family background, geographic
characteristics, travel histories and out-
side reading interests." She says some of
the information will not be meaningful
until greater numbers of students are
included in the study and until most are
in a position to choose professional
careers. But, the studies need to be
started now, and in the short-run the
Academy will be able to determine how
student background affects study behav-
ior at the Academy.
For now, Smith and the Admissions
Office are engaged in getting informa-
tion to schools around the state. Smith
is on a speaking tour to schools and
Educational Service Centers through the
month of February. Students have until
April 1st to complete applications.
Anyone wishing information should call
the Admissions office or the Academy at
(312) 801-6000.
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
The Feeding, Caring and Sheltering of 205 Adolescents
Most parents can probably visualize
the situation captured in our headline,
so it should come as no surprise when
Dean of Student Services, Cathy Veal
says, "There is never a dull moment!"
Few high schools have to contend with
feeding, protecting and providing activi-
ties for students around the clock, in
addition to developing a nurturing aca-
demic environment. At IMSA, the stu-
dents and nine resident counselors live
in converted labs and music rooms,
while permanent dorms are being
completed.
"The current living arrangements are
less than ideal, but they have served to
foster a tremendous camaraderie among
the students," says Veal. Some students
have even suggested that all future stu-
dents be required to spend several weeks
under similar conditions.
The nine resident counselors (RCs)
provide care and supervision during non-
academic hours. For the RCs, the posi-
tion is not just a job, it's a lifestyle.
"Every day is different", says Julie
Freund. She adds that even on days off
they are in demand. "Whenever you're in
the building you're on duty."
Training the staff has been one of the
biggest challenges faced by Dean Veal.
She has had to train a novice staff and
says, "Having them live in less than
ideal conditions has been a challenge,"
and she adds. "We had to do it in less
than a month." Veal came to IMSA from
the North Carolina School of Science
and Mathematics (NCSSM) after four
years there.
"By the time I arrived at NCSSM,
everything was already in place," she
says. "The initial organizing makes this
(situation) very different."
One of the other differences Veal finds
at IMSA is that the three-year program
offers greater potential for what can be
done. According to Veal, "At NCSSM
(students) spend the first year adjusting
and the second year separating. Here at
IMSA, we have a middle year, so I think
that offers a whole new set of
possibilities."
The students may possess special
talents and unique characteristics that
distinguish them from others the same
age, but in many ways "they are still
normal teenagers", according to Veal,
"and they care about many of the same
kinds of things that other teenagers care
about." She adds, "They are just as
interested in whether or not they're
going to get a date to the Saturday night
dance as whether or not they will do
well on their Chemistry test tomorrow.
They're also very interested in the latest
fashions."
Above: Students relax after finals in their temporary dorm room. Photo by student Badrinath
Rengarajan.
Below: Gary Cerefice makes himself "at home" in his temporary dorm room.
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
TRMLBIAZERS. . .
Abraham Lincoln came to life at IMSA
through the dramatic portrayal by actor
James A. Getty. Getty, a native of central
Illinois, is a Lincoln scholar who brings
the sixteenth president and Gettysburg
address to the stage and classroom. That
period of American History came before
Academy students February 23rd. Getty's
portrayal coincides with the study of the
Civil War in the social sciences
department.
In addition to the dramatic presenta-
tion by Getty, students studied that time
period by taking on the roles of political
leaders, officials, citizens and business-
men of that era. Students responded to
situations as they believe their charac-
ters did in real life. The result is a first-
hand experience of the escalation of pol-
itical situations and war.
Role-playing has been a common
classroom technique in the social
science department as teachers encour-
age students to participate and "get the
feel" for an historic period. An earlier
class had students taking on opposing
roles for a study of the Salem Witch
trials. According to teacher Bernie Hol-
lister, the role-playing was a study in
fear and social politics.
The department also brought the U.S.
Constitution to life for a recent Saturday
Seminar. Students became members of
the Senate and House of Representatives
as they proposed and debated constitu-
tional amendments. Students considered
three amendments. One of the amend-
ments would have extended voting privi-
leges to other intelligent life-forms, such
as porpoises. Another bill would have
put a computer in every citizen's home
making it convenient to vote on issues.
Both bills were defeated. Teacher Bill
Stepien says he expects to expand the
constitutional concept to other inter-
ested schools (which would represent
states). The project would develop into a
long-term study and involve more
students.
Renowned author and poet, Frederick
Turner also brought his special talent to
the staff and students of IMSA. Turner,
currently Founders Professor of Arts and
Humanities at the University of Texas in
Dallas, has written several books of poe-
try and a comprehensive study, Shakes-
peare and the Nature of Time. Turner
has been described as:
". . .English and American; classical and
modern; his poetry, at once dense and
powerfully mysterious. . ." (Wesleyan
University Press). Turner shared his
expertise with IMSA staff on February
21, and with students for a required
seminar on Saturday. February 22. Turner
discussed his recent article "A Design for
the New Academy" which appeared in a
recent issue of Harper's Bazaar.
In preparation for Turner's visit, stu-
dents prepared various scenes from Sha-
kespeare's The Tempest. They made
their presentation as part of the Saturday
Seminar.
The IMSA Math Team is currently in
sixth place in overall competition
against 40 Chicago Metropolitan High
Schools, after four meets. The academy
ranks number one in the Freshmen div-
ision and third in the Sophomore div-
ision. Team coach Chuck Hamberg says
he is very pleased with the team's show-
ing, especially in their first year of com-
petition with only a few months of prep-
aration. According to Hamberg, the
Chicago area is traditionally a power-
house in math competition.
IMSA's strong showing is especially
noteworthy since most members of the
team have never competed before. IMSA
students who have participated in com-
petition include: Frank Borras. Brian
Butler, Robert Chang, Sam Choi, Steve
Collins, Amy Courtin, David Franklin,
Peter Cast, Todd Groner, Mehmet
Guler, Matt Hausken, Cheryl Heinz,
Saunders Hsu, Paul Ivsin, Lillian Kao,
Karen Kiener, Jordan Koss, Laura
Kozlevcar, Frank Lai, Young Lee, Lydia
Leong, Doug Lundquist, Eric Martell,
Carrie Mokry, Steve Ramsey, Mark
Smith, Wayming Wu, David Yung. We'll
have more on the team and the indivi-
dual competitors in the next issue.
Dedication to the team, class and
other responsibilities will prevent Ham-
berg from joining other math teachers
around the state on an educational trip
to China. He and other teachers were
invited to participate in a three-week
exchange of mathematics teaching ideas
with Chinese educators in March. The
trip is being coordinated through the
Illinois Council of Teachers of
Mathematics.
An official from China who supervises
over 90,000 teachers in 3100 primary
and secondary schools was among the
many illustrious visitors to the Academy
in its first few months. Mr. Pan Hong-
xuan, Secretary of Education in
Shanghai toured the Academy in
December. Mr. Hongxuan spoke to a few
of the classes while visiting. The Chi-
nese official and an interpreter were on a
30-day visit of the U.S.. gathering ideas
to help them as they revamp their educa-
tional system.
Other international visitors included a
delegation of educators and officials
from Puerto Rico, and last summer a
delegation from Israel toured the
Academy as part of their fact-finding tour
of U.S. institutions.
A delegation from the state of Utah
will tour IMSA in March. According to
Dr. Ronald Sing of the Jordan School
District in Salt Lake City, board officials
have charged the four-member party
with gathering information on housing
students, curriculum programs, and
vocational programs. The group plans to
visit four other Chicago-area schools.
Five IMSA students are participating
in a national project. Frank Borras,
Peter Cast, Jill Mitchell, Doug Tumbull
and Terri Willard are working on an
emulsion experiment design for Project
S.H.A.R.E. (Southern Hemisphere
Aerostat Research Expedition). The pro-
ject is a lighter-than-air balloon launch
in the Southern Hemisphere. Its purpose
is to circumnavigate the globe, or at
least extend the current records.
The students are working with Dr.
Drasco Jovanovich, of Fermi National
Accelerator Laboratory in designing an
experiment to be carried on the balloon.
It will involve preparing emulsions,
which are similar to photographic films.
then flying them in the balloon at about
20,000 feet. Cosmic rays will strike the
emulsions and the tracks can be mea-
sured and counted microscopically. The
tracks might lead the students to insight
on the tracks and possibly new scientific
discoveries. The students will also be
working in conjunction with a team of
scientists from Ohio State University and
continued on next page
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
continued from page 7
several scientists from Japanese
universities.
Kris Gerhard of Freeburg, Illinois is ap-
plying for a Young Scholars grant
through the National Endowment for
the Arts. According to her history
teacher, Bernie Hollister, Gerhard's
proposal calls for updating the history
guide for her hometown of Freeburg.
Announcements on the grants should be
forthcoming this month.
History teacher, Bernie Hollister will
be travelling to Williamsburg, Virginia
on a fellowship grant to study the Con-
stitution. Hollister is involved in the
research and planning for the Bicenten-
nial celebration of the historic
document.
"Coping with Stress" was the topic of a
program for all students on February
23rd. The workshop was coordinated
through social worker Cheryl McCuirk,
who invited family therapist Jim Weaver
as a speaker. The program included
group discussion to aid students in
developing creative ways to handle
stress.
IMSA is sponsoring a Jump Rope for
Heart event April 12th in the afternoon.
The fundraiser, which will involve teams
of students and faculty, will benefit the
Heart Association of Illinois. Coordina-
tors Sue Bernal (IMSA Nurse), Tim
Ritchie (Physical Education), Jeff Young
and Badrinath Rengarajan, are looking
for volunteers and/or sponsors.
JUMP ROPE
FOR
HEART
f American
" Heart
Association
In Illinois
*
Illinois Association
For Health,
Phyalcal Education
& Recreation
r^lMSA
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
1500 West Sullivan Road
Aurora, Illinois 60506-1039
NON PROFIT ORG.
BULK RATE
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
AURORA, IL
PERMIT NO. 129
newsletter from the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
^IMSA
Volume 1 • No. 2
IkW
".4 Pioneering Educational Community'
^
June 1987
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
1500 West Sullivan Road
Aurora. Illinois 60506-1039
312/801-6000
Director
Dr. Stephanie Pace Marshall
Board of Trustees
Dr. Nancy Cole
Dean of College of Education
University of Illinois
Dr. LeRoy Ducksworth
Superintendent
East St. Louis School Dist. 189
Ms. Sheila Griffin
Marketing Executive
Motorola Incorporated
Mr. Gary D. Jewel
Superintendent of Schools
Aurora West School Dist. 129
Dr. Leon Lederman
Director
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
Mr. John Marion
President
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Dr. Walter Massey
Vice President for Research and for Argonne
National Laboratory'. University of Chicago
Mr. John McEachern. Jr.
President
Wayne Circuits Incorporated
Dr. David Mintzer
Special Assistant to the President
Northwestern University
Mr. James D. Pearson
President
Aurora Industries
Dr. David R. Pierce
Executive Director
Illinois Community College Board
Dr. Anthony Sadowski
Vice President
Nalco Chemical Company
Mr. Ted Sanders
State Superintendent of Education
Ms. Barbara Schmulbach
Teacher of Mathematics
Carbondale Community High School
Mrs. Elise Scott
Teacher of Chemistry
Mattoon High School
Mr. Jesus Manual Sosa
Principal
Clemente High School. Chicago
Dr. Richard D. Wagner
Executive Director
State Board of Higher Education
Editor
Naomi Geltner
A'Olvl is published five times a year by the
IMSA Communications Office.
IMSA's First Year— A Blue Ribbon Finish!
Academy teams and individuals scored several wins recently, giving the school some
first-time major victories in its short nine-month history. The Chess team gave IMSA its
first state title. The Math team took the state first place trophy in the freshman Algebra
I division and the sixth place trophy overall. A Future Problem-Solving team headed for
state finals, and six history' projects submitted to the Chicago Metro History' Fair
entered the finals competition in Chicago. Students also scored well in two language
tests. The wins have given IMSA students a terrific boost in this, their first year of aca-
demic competition! The following articles cover some of our bright young stars!
Some members of the IMSA Math Team. Left to right: Mark Armantrout. Paul Ivsin. Mehmet
Culer. Todd Croner, Steve Collins. David Joerg. Jordan Koss. Lydia Leong. Eric Martell. (See
Math Team article below. I
Chess Team
Takes State!
IMSA's Chess team is the new Class A
state champ and the first team to give
the Academy a state title! The five-
member team competed against 20 other
schools for the top spot in the State
Chess Tournament held at University
High in Urbana in late March. IMSA was
ranked eighth in the tournament with
teams competing in six rounds over two
days.
Team Coach Krist Enstrom credits low
pressure and a lot of sleep with helping
the team on the way to the state cham-
continued on page 3
Math Students
and Teams take
Top Honors!
An IMSA student is the top freshman
mathematician in the state and several
math teams took top honors in a recent
competition. Steve Collins (Waukegan),
outscored several hundred other stu-
dents to win first place in the Freshman
Algebra written test. The test was part of
the Illinois Council of Teachers in
Mathematics math contest held in early
May. Collins and 1700 of the state's best
high school math students competed in
continued on page 3
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
Dear Members of the Academy Community,
The last few months have been exciting ones for IMSA as we close our first pioneer-
ing year. Our academic and sports teams have done exceedingly well, surpassing the
expectations of many, including our own students. A special awards assembly in June
recognized the efforts and achievements of our students and staff.
May was a time for us to formally recognize those who have supported us through
contributions of financial and material resources or time during this first important and
critical year. An Open House on May 3rd brought many of our special sponsors and con-
tributors to the Academy. Equally as important as the gifts, is the trust and investment
those contributions represented to us.
Our contributors this year joined others in the IMSA community as "risk takers,"
since they gave to something yet unproven. These commitments bind all of us involved
with IMSA. All have invested a part of themselves in the belief that this school will
make a significant contribution to the children and teachers of Illinois.
The collective generosity of our contributors has given us reference books, modems,
magazines, computers, art work and much needed funds. For their individual contribu-
tions we are deeply grateful.
We in turn are committed to live up to those expectations and those investments. As
you may note in some of this month's Nova articles, our Math team finished sixth in
the state, winning one first place trophy. Our Chess team is the new state champion
and some of our other teams are on their way to finals competitions. Many of our
teachers have also received recognition through fellowships or through the publication
of articles, and this is only our first year!
We are also attracting national and international attention. Officials from the states
of New York, New Jersey, Indiana, Utah, Florida, Nebraska and Minnesota have been in
contact with us or have visited to study the feasibility of establishing similar schools in
their states. Mississippi recently passed legislation establishing a residential school for
the gifted in that state. Representatives from Korea, Puerto Rico, China and Greece
have also visited us. A school district in Canada is exploring a similar school concept
and a TV production group from Australia is considering featuring the Academy in their
documentary. We like to think that the spotlight is not only on IMSA, but on our entire
state, as a demonstration of what we value in Illinois!
At the May 3rd Open House program I closed with one of my favorite poems
by R. L. Sharper
Isn 7 it strange
That princes and kings
And clowns that caper
In sawdust rings
And common people
Like you and me
Are builders for eternity?
Each is given a bag of tools,
A shapeless mass,
A book of rules;
And each must make
Ere life is flown,
A stumbling block
Or a stepping stone.
All of you who have been our friends and supporters have been our stepping stones
this year, and for this we say — thank you! IMSA won't let you down!
Stephanie P. Marshall, Ph.D.
Director
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
[Chess (continued from page 1)
ipionship. "Some of the other coaches
;compIained that their kids had stayed up
late. . .our team was in bed by 8:30. We
took the tournament seriously," he says,
"but pressure was low and we kept every-
thing light. Some of the coaches there
said it was one of the toughest tourna-
ments they've had in ten years."
According to Enstrom, the team is no
stranger to victories, having had a 10-2
season against all Class AA schools. He
says IMSA also had one of the toughest
schedules at the tournament, having to
face the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 9th
ranked teams.
The five team members who earned
their positions on the team through
competitions include: Ray Dames (Wil-
mington), Karl Koschnitzke (Aurora).
Doug Lundquist (Rockford), Doug
Turnbull (Urbana), and John Hoesley.
(Chicago). Krist Enstrom, an IMSA Res-
ident Counselor is from Delavan,
Wisconsin.
Left to right: Doug Turnbull. John Hoesleg, Coach Krist Enstrom and Karl Koschnitzhx
ponder the next move.
Math (continued from page 1)
the final round of the seventh annual
: ICTM competition held at Illinois State
University in Normal, Illinois.
Jordan Koss (Northbrook) took fourth
place in the same division with David
Joerg (Batavia) placing ninth. This is
I the first year IMSA students have com-
i peted in the match competition.
The Academy took sixth place overall
: in the state in Division AA, intended for
\ schools with 750 or more students
! enrolled. The final round included the
, winners of competitions held recently at
19 regions throughout the state. Stu-
i dents competed in 13 events including
algebra, geometry, trigonometry and pre-
calculus to reach the finals. The contest
featured written, team, relay and oral
events.
The Junior-Senior relay teams took
first and eighth place, with the first
place team beating all participating
schools in the competition. The IMSA
team consists mainly of sophomore-level
students. Members of the first place
team were: Steve Collins (Waukegan),
Gabriel Demombynes (Hinsdale), Karen
Kiener (Palatine) and Lillian Kao (Elm-
hurst). Placing eighth in the same cate-
gory were: Amy Courtin (West Chicago),
Todd Groner (Marion), Carrie Mokry
(Hoffman Estates) and Laura Kozlevcar
(Peoria).
IMSA teams also took second place in
the Algebra I written test and sixth in
the Algebra II. Members of the team in
addition to Collins. Koss and Joerg
were: Eric Mart ell (Schaumburg), Matt
Hausken (Lombard) and Paul Lee
(Peoria).
"We are competing. . .in
one of the toughest, if not
the toughest, leagues in
the state. "
An eight-person team qualified for
fourth place in the frosh-soph division.
Students Koss, Joerg, Martell and
Hausken participated as did: Mehmet
GUler (Anna), Sam Choi (Lisle), Amy
Courtin (West Chicago).
Paul Ivsin (Elk Grove Village) and
Saunders Hsu (Charleston) took their
two-person Frosh-Soph team to a fourth
place finish. The Frosh-Soph relay team
captured seventh with Hausken, Koss,
Giiler and Choi participating in that
event.
The Algebra II team came in sixth
with members Demombynes, Hsu,
Groner, Kozlevcar, Mokry and Lori
Buetow (Crete).
The competition, co-sponsored by the
Illinois Council of Teachers in Mathe-
matics and the CNA Insurance compan-
ies, wrapped up months of coaching
among 6,000 students from almost 300
high schools entering the competitions.
The IMSA math students have been
doing well in math competitions all year.
After five meets in the North Suburban
Math League, the IMSA team took the
first place trophy in the Freshman div-
ision; third place in the Sophomore div-
ision and sixth place trophy in overall
competition. Students competed in top-
ics such as algebra, geometry, problem-
solving and oral presentations.
"I'm very pleased with our showing
this first year, especially since many of
our kids have never competed before."
says Chuck Hamberg. "We are compet-
ing against 40 other Chicago Metropoli-
tan area high schools in one of the
toughest, if not the toughest, leagues in
the state." The math department has
much to be proud of, as students also
did well in the American High School
Math Exam giving IMSA its first state
ranking at 15th place. (See related arti-
cle, page 6).
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
History
Fair
Ten students who entered the Chicago
Metro History Fair entered the finals
competition. The students submitted six
research projects for the Chicago finals
at the Newberry Library. A total of eight
projects were presented previously at
regionals held at Oakton Community
College in Des Plaines against 25 other
high schools.
"We did admirably," comments
teacher Bernard Hollister (Glen Ellyn).
"It was our first competition and we
were the new kids on the block. We did
well, and we learned a lot." It was Hol-
lister's first time coaching students for
the History Fair.
. Among the six projects was a live per-
formance by Lisa Green (Bolingbrook).
Using six hats as props, Green presented
her own one-woman creation of "Per-
spectives on the Working Women during
World War II." Green was the only IMSA
entry in the performance category, and
one of only a few opting for a live pres-
entation, rather than a videotaped
version.
Other projects by IMSA students were
in the exhibit category and one essay.
The exhibits and Green's performance
made it to the finals, including a project
by Andrew Chen (Charleston) on "The
Influenza Epidemic of 1918." Hollister
says he was surprised to learn not much
had been written about the epidemic
from the Chicago perspective at previous
fairs. In his research, Chen explores
where the virus first began and where it
began in Chicago. The outbreak was the
last major pandemic experienced by Chi-
cago, with as many as 50,000 area resi-
dents losing their lives.
A project by Lillian Kao (Elmhurst)
and Portia Blume (Utica) featured the
widow of one of the victims of the Hay-
market Square riots. Their exhibit on
"Lucy Parsons: The Most Dangerous
Woman in Chicago" dealt with a differ-
ent perspective on the infamous event.
Lucy Parsons, a black woman, was mar-
ried to Albert Parsons, one of the Hay-
market rioters who was later hanged.
She went on to become a significant fig-
Nick and Chris Bullinger, Portia Blume and Lillian Kao with their projects at the Chicago Metro
History Fair in the State of Illinois Building.
ure in Chicago History as one of the
early feminists and close associate of
Emma Goldman. Parsons could always
be found in the forefront of demonstra-
tions supporting the working class.
"That's what it's all
about, "says Hollister,
' 'having the kids use their
imagination for research
and having them be as
creative as possible for
the exhibition of that
research. "
Gail Tulchinsky (Chicago) focused her
research on the Fermi National Accelera-
tor Laboratory for "Fermilab's Contribu-
tions to Society." (One of the librarians
from Fermi, May West, worked closely
with Gail on her project, picking her up
and staying with her while she
researched information in Fermilab's
archives.)
Nick Bullinger and Chris Bullinger
(Sleepy Hollow) conducted extensive
interviews with the Haeger family for
their project "Haeger Potteries." They
borrowed artifacts and pictures from the
family for their exhibit.
Mark Armantrout (Mattoon) and John
Dexter (Crescent City) exhibited
"Motorola: Changing products in Chang-
ing Times." The pair had information
and a computer chip for their exhibit.
They also had an old Motorola radio.
Derek Wolfgram (Aurora) put
together an exhibit on "The Tribune
Tower Stones: Their Origin and Acquisi-
tion." Derek took his own pictures of
some of the celebrated stones, captioned
the photographs with background on the
items, and used a world map to depict
the origins of the stones.
"That's what it's all about," says Hol-
lister, "having the kids use their own
imagination for research and having
them be as creative as possible for the
exhibition of that research." He adds,
"We learned a lot at the Fair. Now we
can better prepare for next year's compe-
tition." Only themes dealing with the
work place went on to state finals.
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
\iture Problem-Solvers
An Academy team took the state
rookie award in the finals competition of
the Future Problem-solving tournament
held at Illinois State University in May.
The five-member team was cited as the
one accomplishing the most in its first
year of competition. IMSA was also the
only school with two students placing in
the top ten in individual competition.
The team, consisting of Portia Blume
(Utica), Kelly Cahill (Aurora), Sophia
Davenport (Macomb), Kris Gerhard
(Freeburg) and Sarah Yates (DeKalb)
entered the finals with Gerhard taking
fifth place and Blume placing eighth in
the individual category'- The same team
earned first place in the written section
of the Regional competition last month.
The Future Problem-Solving Bowl
presents students with issues of concern
or potential concern to the future of
mankind. The teams of students then
use various resources in oral and written
exercises to present possible solutions.
Students are given one hour to make an
oral presentation or two hours for the
written category. Teams entering the
state finals researched issues surround-
ing the problem of endangered species.
The Chicago Regional competition
called for the 25 to 30 schools entering
to prepare possible solutions for the ero-
sion of Lake Michigan and the scarcity
of water in the Chicago area.
For the regionals. the IMSA team
wrote out an ad campaign educating the
public on the water shortage problem
and included a hotline as part of the
campaign giving consumers tips on sav-
ing water. In the Oral competition, a dif-
ferent team acted out a solution using
the allegory of "The Three Little Pigs."
With only preassigned materials as
resources, they constructed costumes
ranging from pig snouts to a wig within
the one-hour limit. The Orals team
placed first in their category.
According to team advisor and social
studies teacher. Bernard Hollister, IMSA
had the only team with all sophomores
competing in the senior division. He
says the team going downstate had one
month to prepare for the finals, where
other schools have been preparing for as
long as two years. "I am very elated
about our showing," says Hollister and
adds he is pleased with the strength of
the students in the social sciences at
IMSA. "It is gratifying to know that the
Academy is getting recognition, not only
in its math and science departments, but
also in the humanities."
In the March regional competition,
three IMSA teams placed among the top
six winners for the written portion. One
team placed first. Two took first and
second in the Oral presentations.
IMSA's Junior Scholars
The IMSA Admissions office initiated a
new program to recognize outstanding
mathematics students. About 18 sixth
and seventh graders were identified for
the IMSA Junior Scholars program in
this its first year.
Students are selected through the
Educational Service Centers across the
state. The selection is made from first-
time participants in the Talent Search
Program and the one with the top score
in mathematics.
The 18 students participated in a two-
day intensive experience at the Academy
that included an introduction to the
school's program and dormitory life. The
Junior Scholars had an opportunity to
meet with their peers from around the
state and were matched with IMSA stu-
dents who served as their "hosts."
The students received an IMSA T-shirt
and certificate marking their significant
achievement. Students invited to the
Junior Scholars program on May 15th,
included:
Kent Barbay - Murphysboro Junior
H.S., Murphysboro
Aaron Bish - Mattoon Junior H.S.,
Mattoon
Matthew Bole - Longfellow, Oak Park
Eugene Foss - Unit District 35, Flora
Some of the Junior Scholars on visit to IMSA. Pictured top row, from left. Joseph Kent Rarhay.
Austin Krumpfes. George Longfellow. Eugene Foss. Middle - Matt Herman. Scott Lenser, Scott
Rifkin. Steven Frederickson. Bottom - Allan Ho. Matt Boles. Vincent Schleitwiler. Aalok Kache.
Daniel Maidman.
Steven Fredericksen - Highland School,
Libertyville
Francis Alenghat - Parker Junior H.S.,
Homewood-Flossmoor
Matthew Hermann - Immaculate
Conception, Columbia
Allan Ho - Pioneer Junior H.S., Peoria
Aalok Kacha - St. Mark's,
Bettendorf, la
Austin Krumpfes - Butler, Oak Brook
Scott Lenser - Dubois, Springfield
George Longfellow - Hoopeston-East
Lynn, Hoopeston
Cliff Myers - Macomb
Scott Rifkin - Martin Luther King,
Rockford
Nathan Sauder - Roanoke
Jill Smith - Murphysboro
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
IMSA Math
Scoring High!
The Illinois Mathematics and Science
Academy is ranked number one in
mathematics among small schools in the
state. The ranking comes as a result of
tabulations from the American High
School Mathematics Examination
(AHSME). About 22,000 students from
248 schools in Illinois participated in
the 38th Annual Examination. Steve
Collins (9th grade, Waukegan) placed
2nd among all ninth grade students and
22nd among all students taking the test.
(While most IMSA students entered at
the sophomore level, some eighth grade
applicants were accepted last year.)
The combined team score placed IMSA
in the top 10% of all schools in the state
by having the 15th best score in the
state. Ten students qualified for the
Honor Roll after taking the test and
scoring over 100 points. The ten quali-
fied to take the American Invitational
Mathematics Examination (AIME), com-
peting against mostly juniors and
seniors. They were: Steve Collins
(Waukegan), Sam Choi (Lisle), Paul
Ivsin (Elk Grove Village), Jordan Koss
(Northbrook), Young Lee (Joliet), Laura
Kozlevcar (Peoria), Gabriel Demom-
bynes (Hinsdale), Lillian Kao (Elm-
hurst), Andy Alt (Aurora) and David
Joerg (Batavia).
Eighteen students are listed on the
Merit Roll for scoring over 90 points on
the AHSME Exam. They include: Doug
Turnbull (Urbana), Peter Gast (Naper-
ville), Erik Rothbaum (Peoria), Ted
Lizak (Palatine), Ray Dames (Wilming-
ton), Mark Armantrout (Mattoon),
Wayming Wu (Downers Grove), Frank
Lai (Elk Grove Village), Andy Oh
(Springfield), Stephen Moore (Bloo-
mington), Cheryl Heinz (Westchester),
Paul Lee (Peoria), Clay Young (Carbon-
dale), Amy Courtin (West Chicago),
Ronjon Paul (Oak Brook), Ann Ashen-
felder (Wheaton), Nick Bullinger
(Sleepy Hollow) and Ron McKenzie
(Carmi).
Math Teachers Sue Eddins and Chuck
Hamberg have been working with the
students. Both say they look forward to
working with the students next year and
with the incoming class. According to
Hamberg next year should be even more
exciting as the students gain experience
in competitions.
The Search for the Class of '90 I
The review of applications and selection for the next class admitted to the Illinois
Mathematics and Science Academy began in April and ended in June. A committee of
27 educators and business professionals from around the state met recently at the
Aurora facility to kickoff the selection process. As members of the Student Review
Committee, they were charged with the task of rating the 870 applications of students
seeking admission to the three-year program.
All applications were read and rated by three members of the committee. The result-
ing evaluations were added to test scores and grade-point averages to compute an over-
all admissions score. The selection process is designed to identify the most talented
students and guarantee equity of access to students representing the diverse population
of Illinois.
According to Dean of Admissions, Dr. LuAnn Smith, "Membership on the Student
Review Committee was determined by nomination from the leadership of various educa-
tional organizations." The organizations represented mathematics and science teachers,
school administrators and counselors. Some organizations making nominations
included the Illinois Committee on Black Student Concerns in Higher Education, the
YMCA of the U.S.A. and the IMSA faculty and residential life staff.
The Student Review Committee met for three days starting April 30th. Successful
applicants were contacted during June. Members serving on the committee included:
Charles W. Beirne, Chicago
The Chicago Public Schools
Louise Bock, Vernon Hills
The Illinois Council of Teachers
of Mathematics
Edwin R. Clarke II, Lake Forest
The Illinois Chamber of Commerce
John D. Court, Sleepy Hollow
The Illinois Principal's Association
Maralyn Curry, Canton
The Illinois Association for
Counseling and Development
Clarice C. Boxwell, Shorewood
The Illinois Committee on Black
Student Concerns
Bill Gibbs, Watseka
The Illinois Association for
Counseling and Development
Marmon Gibson, Chicago
The Chicago Public Schools
Judith R. Grisamore, Lake Forest
The Northern Illinois Planning
Commission for Gifted Education
Jennifer Grogg, Eureka
The Illinois Science Teachers Association
Richard Hanke, St. Charles
The Illinois Association for Supervision
and Curriculum Development
James Hanson, Batavia
The Illinois Association of Regional
Superintendents of Schools
Robert Hawthorne II, Rock Island
The Illinois Committee on Black Student
Concerns in Higher Education
Bernard C. Hollister, Glen Ellyn
The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Wesley Heyduck, Fairfield
The Illinois Science Teachers Association
Chris Kawa, Batavia
The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
William J. Kearney, Evanston
The Illinois State Chamber of Commerce,
Hanover Park
Dr. Thomas J. Kucera
The American Chemical Society
Willie May, Chicago
Chicago Public School District #1
Eric McLaren, Aurora
The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Larry Saler, Olney
The Illinois Council for the Gifted
Sandra Schmulbach, Glenview
The Educational Service Centers Gifted
Ed Consultants
Denise Sparrow, North Carolina
The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Dr. Thomas TenHoeve, DesPlaines
The Illinois Community College Board
Dean Van Diver, Springfield
The Illinois Association for Counseling
and Development
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
Saturday Seminar: Chicago's Ethnic Heritage
Even' month IMSA students are
required to stay at the Academy for a
Saturday Seminar. The seminars have
varied from hearing Dr. Larry Schmarr
lecture on the Cray Supercomputer at
The University of Illinois to the social
studies department leading students in a
simulation of a constitutional
convention.
In April, the Foreign Language
Department combined strengths and
efforts for three separate ethnic tours as
part of the seminar series. The students
started their day with an orchestral pres-
entation by some of our own musicians.
They were then prepared for a day of for-
eign cultures with an introductory les-
son often ethnic dances (including Afri-
can, Israeli. German. French. Mexican
and Creek dances) taught by a profes-
sional dance instructor.
Students bounded out of IMSA into
Chicago headed in three different direc-
tions. One of the tours headed by Ger-
man teacher. John Stark, visited the
DuSable Afro-American Museum in the
Hyde Park area. They also visited the
Chinese American League, a small
museum in Chinatown, where a tour
guide talked to the group and taught
them a few words of Chinese. The
museum visit was followed by lunch at
the Chinese restaurant "The Junk."
A second group led by Spanish teacher
Lena Lucietto visited the National Cze-
choslovakian Sokol Headquarters, a
place where Eastern European students
learn dance and gymnastics. The group
then was treated to a Czechoslovakian
lunch at Klass' Restaurant in Berwyn.
Another group of students visited the
Polish American Museum, an old house
transformed into a museum. The
museum contains artifacts and docu-
ments showing roles that Polish people
have played in U.S. history, dating back
to the revolution. Students had a taste
of Polish food at The Orbit Restaurant
on Milwaukee Avenue. They even got a
headstart on Easter with a lesson on
painting eggs at a Lithuanian museum.
IMSA Scheint
in Chicago!
Several IMSA students studying Ger-
man did shine as they placed second in
the High School German competition
sponsored by the University of Illinois-
Chicago campus. Six IMSA students par-
ticipated in the skit category of the Ger-
man Day contest in April. About 20
schools from the northern Illinois region
entered each of the three categories that
included poetry and interpretive
readings.
IMSA placed second in the skit sec-
tion of the contest with a revised version
of the German "Lorelei" legend by Hein-
rich Heine. Students Andy Alt (Aurora),
Dave Kung (Carbondale), Dan Frakes
(Seneca), Maggie Taylor (Peoria), Clay
Young (Carbondale), and Jennifer
Schwartz (Lake Villa) as Lorelei, rewrote
the legend into a contemporary story.
"I was impressed with the creativity of
the students." says instructor John
Stark. "They really put a lot into the
skit."
The original legend tells the story of a
young German woman waiting for her
lover to return home from the war. As
the young man returns his ship sinks
and both he and Lorelei drown as she
attempts to save him. Legend has it that
Lorelei sits on a cliff on the Rhine River
combing her long blond hair as she
sings a haunting melody, distracting
shippers and drawing them to the peri-
IMSA Recommended for Grant
IMSA is being recommended for an
Artists-In-Education (AIE) grant. A panel
of the Illinois Arts Council which
reviews sponsor applications for the AIE
program met and is recommending an
award of $5200 for a four month dance
residency with Julie Salk.
According to Dr. Neill Clark, English
instructor at IMSA and the proponent of
the grant, the award will be used to
establish a year-long theme at the
Academy studying the connection
between arts and science. The point of
connection will be the metaphor in lan-
guage and mythology and the model in
scientific theory.
Observations of the regular motions of
the heavenly bodies and celebration of
this recognition in music, dance and
ceremony is the common origin of art
and science. "Equinox to Solstice", the
theme of the project, will focus this
study through dance-theatre performan-
ces at the autumnal equinox and the
winter solstice. The performances will be
directed by Salk.
Clark says there is a link between the
earliest cosmological studies and the
most contemporary scientific explora-
tions of space and subatomic particles.
"As man watched what appeared to he
the sun's path through the heavens, he
learned also to calculate, to compute the
movements and out of that came calend-
ars and measurements. Yet, it (the
knowledge) was preserved in the cerem-
onies of religion, in the stories of
mythology and performed as dance
according to the local customs and
music."
Clark says the grant will signify the
coming together of art, science, mathe-
matics and the humanities. The goal is
to present a unification of all knowledge
in one place as an interdisciplinary
approach to education.
lous cliffs, avenging her lover's death.
IMSA students revised the story and set
it in modern Germany, where Lorelei
awaits the return of her lover due to
arrive by bus.
Portia Blume (Utica), Kathy Rink
(Murphysboro) and Doug Turnbull
(Urbana) took third place in poetry read-
ing. The three selected "H'ilkommen
Und Absheid" by J.W. Goethe. An inter-
pretive reading was also presented by
students Jill Howk (Melvin), Karen
Kiener (Palatine) and Jody Yates
(Fowler).
Participants in the contest were
treated to the sounds of the IMSA String
Sextet by students Andy Alt (Aurora),
Chris Bullinger and Nick Bullinger
(Sleepy Hollow), Matt Hausken (Lom-
bard), David Kung (Carbondale) and
Lydia Leong (Wheaton).
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
"Representative" David Yung
confers with another student
during the 38th Youth
Legislature Day in Springfield.
A Taste of Springfield
for IMSA's Would-Be Lawyers
Throughout the Illinois Capitol Building, legislators, judges, attorneys, and the Gov-
ernor's staff were at work. A normal day in Springfield? The arguments, debates, and
compromises sounded familiar but each was being offered by an Illinois high school
student.
Eleven hundred students filled the House and Senate chambers, courtrooms in the
Supreme Court Building, and the Governor's office in March as the 38th Youth Legisla-
ture convened under the sponsorship of the Illinois YMCA. Twenty-nine of the young
legislators and attorneys were from IMSA.
Under the sponsorship of the Aurora YMCA, the following students got a first hand
look at state government:
Kellie Van Housen - senator
Sona Nadenichek - representative
Kevin Munoz - representative
David Yung - representative
Sal Schulze - senator
Efie Saranteas - representative
Jeffrey Young - video press
Steve Moore - video press
Bowen Chung - video press
Kristine Gerhard - video press
Debbie O' Fallon - video press
David Franklin - video press
Jeff Truitt - attorney
Andy Oh - representative
Frank Borras - lobbyist
Todd Laufenberg - lobbyist
Gabriel Demombynes - video press
Jim Kingery - attorney
Chris Posega - attorney
Mitchell Gordon - senator
Jennifer Schwartz - attorney
Amy Courtin - attorney
Terri Willard - senator
Maggie Taylor - lobbyist
Bill Grebner - attorney
Wendy Hansen - attorney
Badri Rengarajan - lobbyist
Robert Chang - representative
Paul Capriotti - representative
The "Youth in Government" project began in October with the selection of students.
Under the direction of project advisors Corinn Wallace, Copley Hospital, Judy Ellertson
from the Aurora YMCA, and Bill Stepien, IMSA social science teacher, students drafted
bills for introduction to the youth legislature, prepared lobbyists positions, learned the
techniques of video journalism, and prepared to defend their client in a mock trial.
As the winter months passed, a mock trial was held at the Kane County Courthouse
and legislators met at area high schools to guide their bills through committee hear-
ings. As the Springfield weekend neared, preparations went into high gear. Aurora
attorneys Paul Patricoski and Richard Petesch helped IMSA attorneys prepare their
appeals for the Supreme Court. Illinois Representative Jill Zwick talked with students
about the dynamics of the legislative process. And then it was off to Springfield.
Each day was packed with legislative sessions, committee meetings, courtroom
arguments, buttonholing by lobbyists, and politicking. Friday ended with a formal ban-
quet and Saturday with a dance. The news program which appeared on close circuit tel-
evision each evening at the Holiday Inn and featured anchorwoman Debbie O'Fallon,
was produced by the student video press, and covered the day's happenings at the capi-
tal. A weary bunch of students (and advisors!) left Springfield on Sunday afternoon
determined to return in 1988 with "can't miss" legislation and scanning the horizon for
golden arches.
8
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
Hollister Selected as Madison Fellow
Bernard Hollister (Glen Ellyn) social
science teacher, has been chosen as a
James Madison Fellow for 1987-88. He
will be a member of a group of American
history, government and civics teachers
chosen nationally for a conference this
summer. The fellowships are very com-
petitive with only about 20 teachers
selected from the east coast and another
20 from the west coast as recipients.
Each fellow receives a $2500 Award.
as well as travel support and expenses
for a three-week seminar beginning June
22. 1987. The seminar provides the
teachers with resources to organize pro-
grams in their community in connection
with the Bicentennial celebration of the
United States Constitution. The teachers
serve as spokesmen for their regions and
states in disseminating information on
the Constitution and planning programs
for the Bicentennial celebration through
1991.
"I'm extremely pleased and excited!
I've always been interested in the Con-
stitution as an historical document."
says Hollister who recently visited Willi-
amsburg for a meeting on the Bicenten-
nial plans.
Among his many accomplishments.
Hollister is also the new president of the
West Suburban Council of Social Stu-
dies, one of the oldest social studies
councils in the state. He led the group
on teaching strategies for the
Constitution.
He is an accomplished author of
instructional texts and editor of educa-
tional publications, including contribu-
tions to A World History: Links Across
Time and Place (McDougal. Littell &
Co.) and was one of four writers for the
Teacher's Manual. He is also the author
of The Mass Media Workbook (National
Textbook Co.). now in its second
printing.
He is the recipient of the National
Science Foundation Grant, the National
Endowment for Humanities Fellowship
and the Williamsburg Award for Study at
Colonial Williamsburg. This is his 24th
year in teaching.
New Dorms. . .New Lifestyle!
"Mom. over here! Can you help me
carry this?"
"Have you seen my journal?"
"Chris, what room are you in?"
Those were some of the cries heard
over and over as students moved their
belongings from the school building into
the new dorms. After eight months of
living in converted lab and music rooms,
students and their resident counselors
moved into the more traditional residen-
tial setting in mid-April. Some students
were better prepared than others.
"I had all my stuff packed before,"
says Andy Chen.
"It was chaotic!" says Eleanore Kim.
"I amassed so much stuff in a few
months!"
Some students do miss the old cama-
raderie that developed from living in
close proximity with twenty to thirty
other people. "There's less closeness as a
school," comments Chen, "but people
are becoming better friends with their
roommates."
And, it didn't take long for students to
discover the advantages of living in the
new dorms and the conveniences. "I can
stay in bed an extra five minutes," says
Kim, "Before we had to run to the show-
ers (in the gym) and back to our rooms."
The novelty of living in a new envi-
ronment led to a lot of excitement and
activity as students tried to make the
new rooms feel more like home. For sev-
eral days after the move students tried to
continue the closeness with their peers
by talking to each other on the phone
into the wee hours. "We discovered the
party line!" said one student. But, after
the newness wore off, the late night calls
lessened. "It's still nice to know you can
call out or hear from home at any hour."
says Erika Tracy.
"The excitement has died down," says
resident counselor Denise Sparrow. "It's
been replaced by an appreciation that
they have received something special."
"It's very exciting!" says mom Nancy
Joerg. "It's been talked about for a long
time and now it's beautiful to see the
sunshine comin? in through the win-
dows and seeing me children filling the
rooms."
As the year ended, students prepared
for finals in their new rooms with a few
reflecting on these past ten months of
residential living. The pioneering year
has given students a new educational
experience where they learned as much
from each other as they did in the
classroom.
"It's been a good experience living
here," says Kim. "now, I can't imagine
going to school anywhere else."
Students enter one of the newly constructed dormitories. Dorms for next year's class are
under construction.
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
Myths as Modern Metaphors for English Students
How do modern film and classical
literature come together for the study of
world literature? Tying the contemporary
to more traditional concepts and litera-
ture has been the aim of English
instructors Dr. Dana Goodman and Dr.
Neill Clark at IMSA.
A visit by screenwriter Leon Capetanos
(who collaborated with director Paul
Mazursky on "The Tempest", "Moscow
On the Hudson", Down And Out in Bev-
erly Hills") in May capped a semester's
study of world pictures by students. This
visit was in conjunction with the study
of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Capeta-
nos addressed the question of why one
makes a movie about contemporary
situations that allude to and draw on a
Shakespearean play.
Capetanos' visit was the climax to a
study on the Elizabethan period. Stu-
dents learned about the Tempest by pre-
paring a performance of one of the
scenes as a group project. The project
was followed by study of E.M.W. Til-
lyard's work about the Elizabethan Ren-
naisance. The Elizabethan World Pic-
ture. According to Clark, it is difficult
material deaing with three different
major metaphors in the literary work of
Shakespeare and going back to classical
times:
— the great chain of being
— the corresponding planes, and
— the Cosmic Dance.
The students were required to write a
scene based on one of the metaphors.
Through performance they had to put to
use what they had learned by reinterpret-
ing some key Elizabethan concepts.
"Our objective was to teach the back-
grounds of Elizabethan literature," says
Clark, "which is really the background of
all literature, and yet do it in a way that
is not rote memorization."
"The study of myth as recurring
images and metaphors becomes the
foundation upon which to explore the
literatures of the world in the junior
year," summarizes Dr. Dana Goodman,
English instructor.
Visits by Capetanos and other writers
and poets were only the beginning of
what is expected to be a pattern of bring-
ing the artist and student together in
the IMSA humanities program.
Math Teacher
on State Panel
An IMSA math teacher was named to
participate in an assessment writing
workshop for the state of Illinois. Sue
Eddins (Glen Ellyn) assisted the state by
conducting data gathering efforts. The
first step in the process had Eddins
attending a workshop in April at Illinois
State University. She and other teachers
across the state will now conduct simil-
iar seminars in their local areas.
A total of 80 teachers from across the
state were invited to participate in the
project, tentatively titled "Mathematics
Assessment Writing Workshop." Eddins
was selected for the workshop and pro-
ject by Dr. John Dossey, President of
the National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics, and officials with the Illi-
nois Board of Education.
According to Boon Lee, with the stu-
dent assessment section of the Board of
Education, the workshop stems from
education reform legislation passed in
1985. The legislation contains a signifi-
cant emphasis on student assessment.
The teachers received background
about mathematics goals, and learned
how to conduct similar workshops at
Educational Service Centers in their
local district. According to officials, a
workshop for science assessment is also
being planned.
Language Students Earn Honors!
The humanities are an important part
of the IMSA curriculum. Students are
required to take one of five languages
offered— French, Spanish, German,
Latin or Russian. A sixth language, Jap-
anese, will be added to the curriculum
beginning next year. Students demon-
strated their skills by earning top honors
in national high school language exams.
Several participated in the Latin, Ger-
man and Spanish exams, with a few
scoring in the top ten percent
nationally.
In the French Exam, sponsored by the
American Association of Teachers in
French, two IMSA students scored above
the 90th percentile. John Dexter (Cres-
cent City) scored at the 96th percentile,
meaning that only four percent of stu-
dents taking the test nationally scored
higher. Eleanore Kim (Pekin) scored at
93. Both received a Certificate
d'Honneur.
The tenth annual Latin exam, spon-
sored by the American Classical League/
National Junior Classical, drew over
61,000 participants. Receiving a Maxima
Cum Laude certificate, and a silver
medal is George Chadderdon (Gales-
burg). Chadderdon, scored more than
thirty out of a possible forty points in
the exam. Ninety percent of the IMSA
students scored above the national
average.
Receiving Cum Laude certificates are:
Chris Caruso (East Peoria), Sophia
Davenport (Macomb), Richard Dunham
(Aurora), Chris Dunlap (Milan), Jodi
Gottman (Champaign), David Reed
(Rock Island), Steven Roman (Aurora),
and Sharon Sundy (Mahomet). The stu-
dents received their instruction from
Rosalind Moore (Batavia).
IMSA students of German also fared
very well in the National High School
Exam sponsored by the American Asso-
ciation of Teachers in German. Five
IMSA students scored in the top ten per-
cent and four students received special
recognition from two German agencies.
Top scorer on the exam was Portia
Blume (Utica) with a 96 percentile rat-
ing. Paul Ivsin (Elk Grove Village) and
Clay Young (Carbondale) each scored at
the 94th percentile. Andy Harrison
(Naperville) scored 93 and Elizabeth
Doyle (Springfield) scored at the 90th
percentile.
Four students received certificates
from the Consulate General of the Fed-
eral Republic of Germany and the Goethe
Institute of Chicago for extraordinary
efforts in the German language. The four
students are: Mark Armantrout (Mat-
toon) for the beginning level; Portia
Blume and Clay Young for intermediate;
and Jody Yates (Fowler) for the
advanced level.
10
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
TRMLBLAZERS. . .
Dr. Neill Clark, English teacher has
published two review articles in New
York Newsday. In the article appearing
in the April 26 issue, Clark explores the
study of the Arthurian legend, and the
historical and mythical realities that
I have fascinated writers and scholars
alike for centuries.
"The Search for the 'Real' King
Arthur" summarizes the observations of
writers Richard Barber author of AVA'G
ARTHUR: Hero and Legend and those of
Emma Jung and Marie-Louise Von Franz
authors of The Grail Legend. Clark's
analysis of the two books, raises the
question that perhaps beyond the search
for the historical or the mythical there is
also the existance of the "living myth".
That, perhaps, the study of historical
evidence and poetic evidence requires
the inclusion of each as ongoing pro-
cesses shaping the legend of Arthur or
any literary figure.
Mythological explorations are also at
the crux of Clark's analysis of The Inner
Reaches of Outer Space: Metaphor as
Myth and as Religion, by Joseph Camp-
bell. Clark again points to 'new age' type
of thinking: one incorporating the study
of mythological symbolism with scien-
tific and measurable knowledge. He con-
cludes that "Campbell's vision for a new
age as one world rendered perceptible by
scientific and technological means yet
comprehended through mythology and
integrated through metaphor has impor-
tant implications for an educational sys-
tem blinded by the light of special
disciplines."
Bill Stepien, social science instructor
and Director of the Information
Resource Center, has published three
books and an article in The Senior
Economist, this year.
In the Fall, 1986 issue of The Senior
Economist. Stepien and co-author Peter
Senn, Professor Emeritus of Economics
at Wilbur Wright College, wrote "The
Constitution: An Economic Framework."
The article outlines teaching techniques
and activities for educating students on
the economic impact of the document.
The article suggests teachers explore the
problems the nation faced under the
Articles of Confederation with an eco-
nomically weak government and a large
war debt. Among the several activities is
the recommendation that students par-
ticipate in role-playing where they con-
sider the economic impact of various
pieces of legislation.
Discovering Illinois is a 1986 text-
book publication by Gibbs M. Smith.
Inc. The elementary level text by Ste-
pien, and co-authors Ida Fisher, John
Lewis and Mary Smoot is designed to
introduce the student to the state's geo-
graphy, history, people, culture and
government.
In The World of Economics (South-
western Publishing Co., 1988), Stepien
and co-authors John Lewis, President of
the Illinois Council on Economic Educa-
tion at Northern Illinois University and
Peter Senn provide an instructional
package for exploring economic con-
cepts and real-world situations. The text
uses the combination of print material,
computerized tutorials, simulations and
other activities to work with students on
the same set of concepts. The instruc-
tional package includes:
1. text featuring economic concepts and
work sheets for concept reinforcement
and review:
2. mastery learning tutorials on compu-
ter diskettes coordinated with the
text:
3. simulation activities on computer disc
highlighting the relationships among
economic concepts in the text.
Earlier this year. Stepien and Smoot
also co-authored a Teacher's Kit for the
film "History Matters: A Story of
Change. " The kit assists teachers in
studying the concepts of the award-
winning film about a farmer and his
daughter-in-law making major invest-
ment decisions. It teaches students by
using a conceptual approach to decision-
making through knowledge of the past.
The kit lists objectives and activities for
students.
Physics teacher, Dr. David Workman,
presented the Jackson Memorial Lec-
tures at Eureka College in April. The
afternoon presentation to the combined
faculty of the College was entitled "A
Curriculum for the 21st Century". Dr.
Workman also addressed the entire col-
lege community on "Special Education
for the Gifted - Best for Them. Best for
Us."
A handcuffed Joe Meyer is led away by
Aurora Police officers as part of the
"Cardiac Arrest" project sponsored by
The American Heart Association. IMSA
raised $250.00 to bail out its principal.
Cheryl McGuirk, IMSA social worker
and students in the Peer Counseling
Club have some excellent ideas for help-
ing new students adjust to IMSA next
fall. They met during May to plan ways
to implement the ideas and the club's
program next year. Students will partici-
pate in the orientation process with par-
ents and new students.
Jennie Saunders-Brown, orchestra
and choral instructor at IMSA, was rec-
ognized by the Kane County Educa-
tional Service Region as "Specialist
Educator of the Year." Brown, a K-12
music teacher for the West Aurora
school district was nominated by peers
to the county's Selection Committee as
an outstanding educator. She was
honored at a special reception recogniz-
ing three other award recipients on Mav
13th.
Michael Sloan, the author of Working
with Works, (Scott, Foresman & Com-
pany), conducted several sections of a
Macintosh class using the popular soft-
ware program Microsoft Works. Microsoft
donated 24 copies of the program to the
Academy. The six one hour classes were
offered during the late afternoon on
Tuesdays and Thursdays.
//
ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
TRAILBLAZERS. . .
The Freedom Shrine, currently on
display at the Illinois Mathematics and
Science Academy, was officially rededi-
cated to the school in April. Members of
the Aurora Exchange Club held their
regular monthly meeting at the Academy
to make the special presentation. The
Freedom Shrine had originally been
presented to the West Aurora School
District for display at its North Campus,
now the IMSA facility.
Keynote speaker for the presentation
was Bernard Hollister (Glen Ellyn),
social science teacher.
In May, about 15 students participated
in a total immersion weekend at Will-
iams Bay, Wisconsin on Lake Geneva.
During the weekend participants were
forbidden to speak anything but Span-
ish. According to instructor Elia Lopez,
"It was great to see that many students
participating. These students really got a
lot out of it."
The weekend was coordinated through
Illinois Benedictine College. Seven stu-
dents in the Spanish I class also
attended the weekend event. According
to Lopez it was an honor to have first
year students allowed on the weekend as
officials seldom admit students with less
than two years of Spanish.
IMSA hosted Chemistry West in April
as part of the Outreach program. Chem-
istry West represents a group of chemis-
try teachers from the Chicago area who
meet six times a year to discuss current
areas of interest to chemistry teachers.
Generally a topic or theme is chosen
and teachers are encouraged to bring
something they can share with others
relevant to that topic. These could be
experiments, demonstrations, or unique
teaching techniques that experienced
chemistry teachers have found work for
them.
Some of the 82 students who recently visited
Springfield during the recent Lobby Day,
sponsored by the LASB and the IASBO. The
students gained first-hand experience about
lobbying as they made contact with their
local Representatives and Senators, sharing
with the legislators some of their experiences
at IMSA.
r^lMSA
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
1500 West Sullivan Road
Aurora. Illinois 60506-1039
NON PROFIT ORG
BULK RATE
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
AURORA, IL
PERMIT NO 129
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